"...and I was talking to this pretty young thing down at the camps, you know? A [i]unicorn[/i]! She said I looked familiar, and asked me where I had come from... I gotta admit, I was actually kind of flustered. What was I gonna tell her, Oak? That I used to saw off horns for a living?"

There were only two forward gate guards today, as the road was quite empty, and they were staving off boredom by discussing the dynamics of the Refuge. Both Oak and his more talkative friend Olive were former Ponies-At-Arms, now dressed in the armor of the Children.

"That'd be the truth," his companion said gravely. 

"I know, I know... She could see I was uncomfortable, but before she said anything I went ahead and kind of mumbled 'New Ponyville, moved there after the flood'. -sigh- She started [i]crying[/i], right there in the road. Turns out she was born back in Old Ponyville, lost her parents in the flood just like my Mama. And guess what? She was my [i]neighbor[/i]! We used to play together when we were foals! Then we ended up in completely different places, on opposite sides of the war... Just makes you think, don't it? I might have killed that girl at some point, if I hadn't..."

Olive trailed off, as a fully-armed and armored hoplite came striding up the road towards them. He and Oak got into defensive positions, and started glancing around in the skies... No clouds to hide behind. Could she be alone? The pair remained wary, and Oak held up a hoof to stop her as she approached. When the hoplite spoke, though, it was as if she were a refugee herself. "I..." Olive started, then stopped to think a bit. This was one of the ponies the Lady had talked about, the ones with the dreams, but how could they let her in with all of that equipment?

"Ma'am, we've been expecting you," he said at last, "but I'm afraid you'll need to relinquish your weapons. Once the Lady confirms that you are indeed an ally, they will, um, be returned to you." Oak stayed at the gates, while Olive ushered the hoplite inside, towards the guard station. While they were walking, he looked at her sidelong, noting the quality of the armor, and how sharp that spear still was, despite the traveling she had no doubt done to get there. "If you don't mind my asking, ma'am, what kind of [i]dream[/i] could convince a hoplite to desert the Stormwings?"